New recreation centers coming in Sioux Falls, but City Hall wants help designing them

Parks Department to focus on Kuehn, Frank Olson parks during upcoming public engagement sessions

Sioux Falls is getting a pair of recreation centers that are likely to offer year-round swimming.

City Hall’s parks office Wednesday announced its next steps toward overhauling the Sioux Falls aquatics system that will eventually see as many as six new swimming facilities constructed throughout the city in the coming years. Of those, five would replace existing pools and aquatics offerings, while the southern region of Sioux Falls is also slated for its first public swimming destination.

First up, though, are the aging outdoor pools at Kuehn Park and Frank Olson Park, both of which are more than 40 years old. But first, the long-term vision for the entirety of those two parks needs further assessment.

NEWS: Turner County crow hunters continue 104-year tradition Wednesday

That’s why a pair of design firms hired by the city to facilitate master planning at Kuehn Park and Frank Olson Park will hold a series of neighborhood meetings next month to hear what residents want out of those two parks.

“We want to continue to involve the community in all facets of the design and have regular touchpoints,” said Mike Patten, a park’s departments planning and project manager.